Wire forms for brassieres



P 9, 1958 v. s. JOHNSON 2,851,037

WIRE FORMS FOR BRASSIERES Filed Oct. 2, 1956 WERE FURMS FOR BRASSIERES Virginia 5. Johnson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Appiication Gctober 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,447

eatin or. 128-471 produce a wire-formed bust supporter or molding device that may be utilized in the identical shape to produce two distinctly different types of bust molding and supporting action, thus to enable the popular low-line type of support to be attained in one relationship of the supporting and molding members, and to enable another more rounded type'of support to be attained when the position of the wire members is reversed or inverted.

While this relative reversal may be utilized by a particular user of brassieres constructed under the present invention it is contemplated that its primary usefulness will be realized by manufacturers who are confronted with the problem of producing a brassiere for the popular low-line elfect for average figures and also with producing a satisfactory supporter for large and heavy figures wherein more fullness in the breast is allowed at the base. Thus it is the further and important object of the present invention to provide wire forms made individually for each breast and which may be utilized in either of two ditferent positions to attain different advantageous breast molding and supporting characteristics. In respect to the production of brassieres adapted for heavy figures the individual wire supporting members'may embody a supplemeutary uplift structure of the general character disclosed in Fig. 7 of my aforesaid prior patent.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what are now considered to be the best modes in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a pair of wire brassiere forms embodying the invention and disclosed in the relationship utilized to produce a low-line supporting action.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. l. 3 is a front elevational view of the bust supporting wire forms of Fig. l and Fig. 2 but shown in an inverted relationship. for use in producing a brassiere for heavy figures.

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the wire forms of Fig. 3 modified to embody an auxiliary uplift construction.

Patent Fig. 4A is a side elevational view of the wire form shown in Fig. 4. I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the wire forms shown in position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of one form of wire padding and protecting arrangement.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the padded wire shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of another form of wire padding or protecting structure.

For purposes of disclosure the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 as embodied in a basic brassiere 20 that is shown without the usual fabric cover and decorations and which comprises a pair of endless forming members 21 made from wire as will be hereinafter described and having an intermediate connecting member 22 that joins adjacent sides of the forming members 21 and also having body straps 23 joined in the usual manner to the remote or outer edges of the respective forming members 21.

Under the present invention the forming members 21 have a particular shape or conformation which enables them to be utilized in making up brassieres having widely different forming and breast supporting characteristics,

the brassiere structure 20 of Figs. 1 and 2 being adapted ot produce a low-line supporting and forming action while Fig. 3 a basic brassiere structure is shown that produces a different kind of breast molding and supporting action that is adapted particularly although not exclusively for use by women with relatively heavy figures,

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each of the supporting and forming members 21 is made up from an endless wire member which may be covered or padded as will be described hereinafter, and the wire member 21 has its major portion formed as gradually curved horseshoe type arch 21V that in Fig. 1 is shown as being in an inverted position and this arch 21V is adapted to be located when in use in a vertical plane indicated at V in Fig. 2 against the chest of the wearer so that the arch 21V extends in an embracing relationship about a substantial proportion of the periphery of the breast, and the ends of the arch portion 21V are joined by a relatively broad or shallow segmental arch portion 21H that is located in a horizontal plane H as indicated in Fig. 1. This horizontal plane H being substantially perpendicular to plane V hereinbefore mentioned in which the vertical arch 21V is located. The adjacent ends of the arch 2111 and 21V are joined by relatively short arcuate connecting portions 21C as will be evident particularly in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, and thus when the forming member 21 of Figs. 1 and 2 is in position in its position of use, the relatively fiat horizontal arch 21H extends across the top of the users breast so as to complete the encirclement of the breast and attain the desired low-line forming action. The smooth curves of the arcuate connecting portions 21C serve of course to extend over the related portions of the breasts so as to promote desired forming action.

The wires that are used in making up the forming members 21 may be of the kind described in my aforesaid prior patent where an inner wire 21W of round cross section is used with a surrounding outer padding or covering sleeve 218 that has an inner diameter substantially larger than the diameter 21W. As explained in my prior patent, this provides for freedom of movement while at the same time giving the padding or cushioning action that is desired. Under the present invention, however, other forms of wire protecting and cushioning structures may be utilized as for example of the form shown in Fig. 8 where a wire 121 of round 'cross section, illustrated as having resilient covering 1218 surrounding the same. The covering 1215 may be applied by spraying, dipping or other known processes, and

the cross sectional form of both the wire and cover may be modified as desired.

In the basic brassiere structure 120 shown in Fig. 3, the supporting members 21 are inverted so that the vertical arch 21V extends in a symmetrical relationship over and about the top and sides of the breast, while the horizontal arch 21H is located beneath the lower surfaces of the breast, and since the arch 21H extends outwardly from the plane of the vertical arch 21V, the horizontal arch 21H will in this structure serve a substantial supporting function as well as a molding action. Moreover, the molding action of the member 21 is such that the vertical arch 21V gives a rounded effect to the upper surfaces of the bust and considerable greater width in the bust is permitted near the lower portion thereof where it is supported by horizontal arch 21H.

In those instances where additional support is required, resort may be had to a supplemental supporting arch 221V as shown in Figs. 4 and 4A of the drawings, this arch 221V being smaller in size and having its ends secured as at A to the horizontal arch 21H. The location of the supplemental supporting arch 221V is such that it projects upwardly in a generally parallel relation with respect to the main arch 21V, although the angle thereof may be varied as shown in Fig. 4A. Thus, in Fig. 4A, the arch 221V is shown in full lines as being substantially parallel to the main vertical arch 21V, and is shown in dotted lines as diverging outwardly to a considerable extent with respect to the main arch.

From the foregoing description it would be apparent that the present invention provides a novel and highly advantageous wire form for use in brassieres, and it will be apparent that this wire form may be utilized in brassieres in two different relationships such that two radically different supporting and formingactions are attained by the wire forms.

Thus while I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wire form for brassieres, an endless rigid wire member formed to provide a smoothly curved generally horseshoe type arch disposed in a first plane and adapted to be disposed against the chest of a wearer in embracing relation to a substantial proportion of the periphery of a breast of the wearer on one side of a horizontal plane and having the balance of said member formed as a second rather shallow smoothly curved segmental arch disposed primarily in a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane in position to complete the embrasure of such a breast on the other side of such horizontal plane along a curving line spaced from the chest of the wearer.

2. In a wire form for brassieres, an endless rigid wire member adapted to encircle the base portion of a breast of a wearer and formed to provide a curved horseshoe arch disposed against the chest of a wearer in embracing relation to a substantial proportion of the pcriphery of a breast of the wearer on one side of a horizontal plane and having the balance of said member joined by smoothly curved arcuate portions to opposite ends of said arch and formed as a second rather shallow segmental arch disposed primarily in a second plane sub stantially perpendicular to said first plane in position to complete the embrasure of such a breast on the other side of such horizontal plane along a curving line spaced from the chest of the wearer so as to thereby impart a substantial forming and molding action to such breast.

3. In a wire form for brassieres, an endless rigid wire member formed to provide a first relatively long horseshoe arch disposed in a first plane and adapted to be disposed against the chest-of a wearer in embracing relation to a substantial proportion of the periphery of a breast of the wearer on one side of a horizontal plane and having the balance of said member formed as a second shallow segmental arch connected by short smooth arcuate bends to said first arch and disposed primarily in a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane in position to complete the embrasure of such a breast on the other side of such horizontal plane along a curving line spaced from the chest of the wearer.

4. In a reversible wire form for brassieres, an endless rigid wire member adapted to encircle the base portion of a breast of a wearer and formed to provide a first relatively long horseshoe arch disposed in a first plane and adapted to be disposed against the chest of a wearer in embracing relation to a substantial proportion of the periphery of a breast of the wearer on one side of a horizontal plane and having the balance of said member formed as a second rather shallow segmental arch disposed extended outwardly from said first plane in position to complete the embrasure of such a breast on the other side of such horizontal plane along a curving line spaced from the chest of the wearer, whereby location of said second arch beneath a breast provides an uplight supporting action while location of said second arch against the top of a breast produces a low-line forming action in respect thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,509,353 Johnson May 30, 1950 2,679,646 Cousins June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,107,380 France Aug. 3, 1955 936,921 Germany Dec. 22, 1955 

